Stapling machine



Nov. 15, 1938. y s. A. cRosBY 2,136,374

l STAPLING MACHIVNE Filed Augfzs, 19:56 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY Nov. 15., 1938. s, A CROSBY y 2,136,374

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 28, 195s v 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES iATENT OFFICE Parrot Speed Fastener Corporation,

Long

Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 28, 1936, Serial No. 98,273

17 Claims.

The subject matter of the present invention is an improved stapling machine of the type adapted to drive relatively heavy staples although in the broader aspects of the invention it is not limited in this respect. One object of the invention is realized in the provision of an eflicient stapling machine characterized by a one piece frame having means for conveniently positioning the'rear part of a staple supporting rail relative to the rear part of the frame for locating the rail transversely of the frame and including spaced'sides having means for readily positioning and locking the forward part 0f the rail relative to the forward part of the frame for locating the rail longitudinally of the frame. The invention has as a further object the provision of a stapling machine in which the sides of the frame and rail include means for positioning and locking a housing relative to the frame for readily locating the rail vertically of the frame. The invention further comprehends as an object the provision of a stapling machine wherein the sides of the housing comprise means for readily positioning a sheath relative to the sides of the frame to locate the sheath transversely, vertically and longitudinally of the housing and wherein the sides of the sheath include means for readily interlocking with the housing to sustain the sheath in its located position.

The invention has as anv additional object to provide an improved stapling machine wherein the sheath is in the form of a channeled member having means for locating the staple carrying rail centrally of the frame and wherein the locating means is integral with the channel member and serves an additional function of defining a part of a vertical staple raceway with the rear vertical and transverse face of the channelled member which in cooperation with the forward face of the rail forms the remainder of the vertical raceway which in turn is in communication with the staple ejecting gap constituting the forward part of the staple guide passageway formed by the frame and the located rail centrally disposed therein.

Other objects, advantages and features of the y invention are in part obvious and in part hereinadvantages thereof will be best understood. from` the following description of the herein disclosed embodiment when read in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved stapling machine accorded to the invention shown partly broken away to illustrate the internal construction.

Fig. 2 is a vertical and longitudinal sectional View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 o-f Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line I-S of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an exploded View in perspective wherein the housing is detached from the frame, and the sheath or closure is detached from the housing.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a part of the ram or staple driving means.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the staple supporting rail.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line I I- II of Fig. 1 and Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear end of the pivoted arm.

Illustrative of the embodiment disclosed, the improved stapling machine is generally designated S and includes a base I0 towhich is pivoted a swingable arm having a one piece pivoted frame II in which an inverted U-shaped staple supporting rail I2 is centrally positioned in respect to the sides I3 of the frame and each of the sides of the frame includes an inwardly overhanging flange i4 spaced from the upper wall of the rail I2.

The pivoted frame. II is a one piece member and is provided at its rear end with a boss I5y having transverse wall I6 which is integrally interconnected with the sides I3 of the frame I I. Boss I5 is provided with a reinforced integrally connected ledge or seat Il having a depending pin I8 surrounded byv a compression spring I9 which has its lower end encircling upstanding pin 2l! secured to base I0.

Integrally interconnecting ledge I'I and the transverse wall I6 is a depending central lug 2| having a transversely disposed opening 22 dis-V posed in alinement with the alined openings 23 of the lugs or ears 24 depending from the sides of the rail I2 which has its rear end seated on ledge I 'I and closely straddles boss I5. In other words boss I5 and ledge I'I support the rear part of the rail but boss I5 prevents transverse movement of the rail relative to the frame and hence serves as positioning means to locate the rail transversely of the frame. In such relation, alined and spaced openings 23 of the rail are also located in alinement with opening 22 of the depending lug 2I which is integral with transverse wall I6 and extends forwardly thereof.

The forward part of rail I 2 may also be quickly and accurately positioned relative to the sides of the frame for locating the rail longitudinally of the frame. In this connection it will be observed that each of the sides of the rail is provided with a laterally extending lug 25 adapted to be readily received in a recess 2'I in each of the sides of the frame. Lugs 26 of the rail fit closely but removably with the walls of companion recesses 2'I of adjacent sides of the frame and conveniently interlock therewith. By this arrangement the forward end of the rail may be readily positioned in respect to the frame and located longitudinally of the frame. With the rear part of the rail located transversely of the frame and the forward part of the rail located longitudinally of the frame alined openings 23 of the rail and opening 22 of the depending lug 2| are in alinement with the spaced alined opening 28 in the spaced sides I3 of the frame at their enlarged rear portions29 thereof.

With the rear and front parts of the rail positioned and located in respect to the frame as described, the sides of the rail are in spaced relation relative to the sides of the frame and the top of the rail is spaced from the overhanging guide flanges I4 thus forming a passageway or channel 33 for slidably guiding the staples 3I of a staple strip longitudinally of the frame.

Extending upwardly from the sides of the frame and integral therewith are the spaced wings 32 which in turn are integrally interconnected by an .arcuately shaped transverse closure wall 33 defining a chamber 34 with the front wall 35 of a rectangularly shaped and vertically disposed column 36 at the bottom of which lip 3l overhangs the front spaced faces 38 of the sides of the frame. It should be noted that lip 3'I is integral with column 36 and the spaced flanges I4 and is provided with a longitudinally disposed relatively narrow channel 3S defining horizontally spaced shoulders 40 which form continuations of the undersurfaces of anges I4, the channel 39 serving as relief for the crown of the staple during its advance under lip 37. Shoulders 4S of the overhanging lip 31 .are spaced from the upper horizontal surface of the rail defining therewith a staple ejecting gap 42 which in effect is the forward part of the passageway 3E. It should also be noted that the forward inverted U shaped and flat face 43 of the rail I2 is in the same plane as the front vertical face 4I of the overhanging lip 3l and constitutes a bearing for the driving blade of a displaceable ram or plunger hereinafter more particularly set forth.

Referring now to Fig. 7, it will be observed that the side wings 32 of the one piece frame extend laterally of the sides 43 of column 35 although the latter is centrally disposed in respect to the frame at the forward end thereof, thus forming vertical shoulders 44 and the horizontal shoulders 45 extending laterally of the sides of column 36. Slidably guided by front and side walls of column 36 is a ram or plunger generally designated 45 to which is vappropriately attached a driving blade 4l appropriately mounted on fulcrum pin 48 secured to the front wall 49 of U shaped channeled member 56 to which is rigidly anchored the outwardly and convexedly curved head 5I which includes a depending centrally arranged annular ange 52 about which the upper end of a helicoidal spring 53 is retained. This spring 53 is arranged in a vertical bore 54 of column 35 which as previously stated is integral with the one piece frame II. The lower end of spring 53 however abuts the lower or bottom horizontal face of bore 54 and normally the action of the spring 53 is such as to hold plunger s6 in an elevated or raised position relative to the frame.

The spaced sides of the U shaped channeled member are each provided with a marginal but reentrant recess 55 to form spaced shoulders 5B and 5l severally cooperating with the transversely disposed stop or shank 5B of the rivet 59 for limiting vertical movement of the plunger in respect to the frame. As illustrated in Fig. 2, lower shoulders 5l of the sides of the plunger cooperate with shank 58 to limit upward displacement of the plunger. This is the normal elevated position of the plunger. If depressed, upper shoulders 56 cooperate with shank 53 to limit downward displacement of the plunger.

/'Vithin chamber 313 of the frame is a convolute spring 6G having its inner end retained in a diametrically disposed slot 5I in the rotatable and adjustable arbor 52 having its shank sustained in bearings 63 in the upstanding wings 32 of the frame. The head 52 of arbor 62 is disposed in opening 54 while the other slotted end of the shank is accessible to permit the insertion of a screw driver to rotate the arbor for adjusting the tension of the convolute spring as is well understood.

The other end of the convolute spring G is connected to a strap 65 surrounding a cross pin 66 of a slidable U shaped staple follower 'I which cooperates with the staple strip in the staple passageway 3) to urge the foremost staple of the strip out of the staple ejecting gap 42 at the front of the frame. With the convolute spring adjusted to its proper tension, this tension may be retained by clamping head 58 of the adjustable set screw S9 which is threadably interconnected r with opening l against the head 62 of the arbor 62 to prevent accidental rotation of the latter.

Embracing the sides of the plunger and the sides I3 and wings 32 of the forward part of the frame is a U shaped housing 'iI which embodies a front wall l2 and integrally connected rearwardly extending spaced sides 'I3 each of which is provided at the lower end thereof with an inwardly turned lug I4 which closely but removably ts into an adjacent recess 2'I of the sides of the frame and engages an outwardly extending lug 25 of the rail I2. With lugs 'I4 interlocked with recesses 2l and abutting lugs 26, the rail is prevented from being downwardly displaced or is positioned in respect to the housing and is therefore located vertically relative to the frame.

In such located position of the housing II the walls of the vertical U shaped channel I5 defined by housing lI and the column 36 serve as bearing means to slidably guide the self raising plunger or ram 45 although the upper part of wall l2 of the housing is provided with a groove I6 to guide the anchored fulcrum pin 48. By the present arrangement it will be observed that the forward vertical face 4I of lip 3'I together with -the rear transverse Vertical face of wall -12- of the housing serve as bearings for the driving blade 41 of the plunger 46. This driving blade is provided with a relatively shallow channel 11 defining corner shoulders 18 which cooperate with the curved upper corners of a staple to drive the latter downwardly to be ejected out of the frame. The corner shoulders 18 of the driving blade also cooperate with the corners of a staple to prevent flowing of the corners of the staple towards the crown thereof during the driving displacement of the blade.

In the assembled relation of the housing and frame, the forwardly projecting lugs of the sides of the housing in cooperation with correspondingly shaped openings 8| in the U or channeled shaped cover or sheath 82 constitute means for positioning this sheath in respect to the housing to locate the sheath transversely of the housing, that is, lugs 80 fitting into the spaced openings 8| also constitute means for interlocking the housing and sheath to prevent transverse displacement of the latter.

In locating the sheath on the housing, the spaced sides 83 are slightly spread apart to straddle the sides of the housing and moved in such fashion that lugs 80 enter into openings 8|. Further movement of the sheath relative to the housing and projections 84 struck out of the sides of the sheath snap into openings 85 in the side walls cf the housing. With pins 64 interlocked in openings 85', longitudinal movement of the sheath relative to the housing or rail is prevented and since rectangularly shaped lugs 89 closely but removably fit correspondingly shaped openings 8| in the sheath the latter is alined or located vertically of the housing as well as transversely thereof.

Having located the sheath of the housing, it will be observed that the front inverted U shaped face 43 of the rail is properly located or positioned relative to the rear vertical and inner face 85 of the front wall 86 of sheath 82 so that the front face 43 of the rail is flush or in alinement with the vertical or front faces 81 of the spaced lips 88 struck out of the offset sides 89 of the sheath due to the limiting action of the slightly curved or tapered faces 90 of the lips or projections 88 (Figs. 2, 3 and According to the invention lips 00 are formed by pressing or extruding the lower portion of offset walls 89 slightly inwardly, thus forming relatively small indentations 92 in the outside surface of the offset walls 39 of the sheath 82. By the present construction, sheath 82, a one piece member, is provided with a staple raceway 93 formed by the rear face 85 of the front wall 86 and the alined vertical faces 81 of the lips 88 and hence during use it is apparent that since a one piece member defining a raceway is provided relative movement or spreading between the front and rear faces of the staple raceway 93 is prevented. Raceway 63 ,may be said to be the lower part of the raceway 93 formed by the parallel faces 43 and 85 (Fig. 6). It is also apparent that the lips 88 of the sheath properly locate or centre the rail relative to the frame to take care of tolerances or other uncontrollable variations that might creep in during the process of stamping various parts of the arm when pins 84 during assembly interlock with the sides of the housing. These lips 89 also cooperate with the lower front corners of the rail to prevent the sides of the rail from spreading.

During displacement of the driving blade 41,

the rear tace of the front wall 12 of the housing together with the front vertical face 4| of the overhanging lip 31 serve as bearing surfaces for the parallel front and rear surfaces Yof the driving blade 41.

Where the rail is positioned relative to the frame, the housing in respect to the latter, and the sheath in respect to the housing, provided of course spring 60 has been properly disposed in i chamber 34 and the ram or plunger has been lap cpriately mounted on the column, alinedopenings 94 of the spaced sides of the housing automatically line up with the transverse bore 95 of the rectangular column 43, the rectangularly shaped openings 96 in the spaced wings 13 of the housing line up with rectangularly shaped openings 9? of the wings 32 of the frame, opening 98 in one wing of the housing lines up with opening 'ill which receives clamping set screw 68, opening 69 of the housing lines up with bearing' in the wings 32 of the frame, alined openings |00 of the wings of the housing line up with alined openings |02 in the sides of the frame and the alined openings |0| of the housing line up with the alined openings 03 in the spaced sides of the frame.

Continuing withthe assembling steps, pin or stop 58 is inserted in the alined openings 94 and bore 95 and upset to form rivet 59. Brace or bar |05 is inserted into openings96 and 91 so that its projection or detent |06 which has been extruded or struck out therefrom is driven past an inner surface of an adjacent wing 13 of the housing. Detent |06 cooperates with the adjacent inner surface of the contiguous wing to prevent withdrawal of the brace. Brace |05 is provided with a notch |01, the walls of which serve as stop means for nose |08 which is associated with the staple follower block 61 to limit forward movement of the latter after the last staple of the staple strip has been expelled.

Clamping screws |08 are utilized toV hold the housing in its located position in respect to the sides of the frame. In this connection the shank of a set screw |08 is passed through an opening |0| of the housing and connected to an associated threaded opening |03 of a contiguous side I3 of the frame.

The shank 69 of the clamping set screw 68 is inserted in opening 98 in the housing and is clamped against the adjacent head ofl the adjustable arbor 82 having a slotted end accessible through opening 99 in an opposite wall of the housing.

When sheath 82 is snapped into position on the housing, openings ||0 of the sides thereof are in alinement with the alined openings |00 and |02 of the housing and frame respectively. To sustain such position, set screws are employed. Each of these have their threaded shanks passing into opening H0 of the sheath and cooperate with thev companion threaded openings |00 and |02 of the housing and the frame to permit clamping of the sides of the sheath against the sides of the housing and the latter against the frame.

Having assembled the arm, the enlarged rear portions 29 of the frame thereof are interposed between the spaced perforated upstanding lugs ||2 of the base |0-taking in consideration that spring i8 is. first appropriately arranged about pins I8 and 20 of the base and arm. Subsequently fulcrum pin ||3 is passed through alined openings 2S, 23 and 22 of the frame, rail and depending lug 2|. Thereafter pin ||3 is upset to form a rivet on which the frame is pivotally sustained.

With the arm pivotally connected to the base, the plunger may be depressed to drive the staple in the staple vertical raceway previously ejected from the staple passageway. This vertical raceway is formed by the rear vertical face of the front wall 86 of sheath 82, the opposing but parallel face 43 of the rail and front faces 8l of the lips 88 struck out of the sheath. When the blade strikes a staple in the staple raceway shoulders 18 thereof abut the corners of the staple and the legs of the staple are driven against appropriate indentations of an anvil ||4 to clinch or fasten the paper placed on the anvil in the customary fashion.

Briefly recapitulating several of the novel steps in the matter of assembling the several parts of the swingable staple carrying arm, it is appreciated, that the rail is rst located transversely of the frame by slipping the rear end ofthe rail on the boss l5. Subsequently the rail is located longitudinally of the frame. In this instance lugs 26 of the rail are quickly moved into the interlocking recess 21. In such relation of the rail and frame, openings 23 of the rail are in alinement with openings 22 of depending lug 2| and openings 28 of the sides of the frame.

Pursuant to mounting the plunger 46 on the column 36 housing is slipped on the forward part of the frame. Hence lugs '|4 enter recesses 21 and abut fingers 26 of the rail. It follows that the forward part of the rail is thus prevented from being downwardly displaced. The rail is therefore located vertically relative to the frame. Consequently the rail is now alined in three planes in respect to the frame.

The sheath is now moved over the lower forward end of the housing. Lugs 88 readily enter openings 8| in the sheath, hence locating the latter vertically and transversely of the housing. The projections 84 snap into openings 85' of the housing and the sheath is positioned longitudinally of the housing.

In the located position of the sheath, the depending sides of the, rail are closely straddled by lips 88. These have the additional function of preventing the lower corners of the sides of the rail from spreading outwardly. Of course the front vertical faces 81 of the lips 88 are in alinement or flush with the front inverted U shaped face 43 of the rail and these faces are substantially parallel tothe rear vertical face 85 of the front wall 86 of the sheath, thus forming a vertically disposed raceway 93 the major portion of which is dened by the forward face 43 ofthe rail and rear face 85 of the sheath While the lower or complementary portion 93 of this raceway is formed by the front faces 8l and the lower portion of the rear face 85.

As many changes could be made in the herein disclosed embodiment and many widely different embodiments of this invention could be devised without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:--

1. In a stapling machine, a frame having spaced sides, a U shaped rail interposed between said sides longitudinally of said frame, means at the rear of the frame adapted to be straddled by said rail for positioning the latter in spaced relation in respect to said sides and transversely of said frame, interlocking means for positioning said rail longitudinally of said frame, and a housing mounted aa the forward part of said frame and including means cooperating with said interlocking means for positioning said rail vertically of said frame.

2. In a stapling machine, a frame having spaced sides, means interconnecting the rear terminals of said sides comprising a boss, said sides at the forward lower portions thereof having recesses, a rail having a rear portion adapted to closely straddle said boss for positioning said rail transversely of said frame and in spaced relation to said sides, and laterally extending overhanging means carried by said rail and cooperating with said recesses to position said rail longitudinally of said frame.

3. In a stapling machine, a frame having spaced sides, a rail interposed between said sides and spaced therefrom to define a longitudinally disposed passageway, a member carried by said sides and having a rear face substantially parallel 'to the forward face of said rail to define therewith a vertically disposed raceway, and means projecting from said member and closely straddling the sides of said rail and having forward vertical faces spaced from said rear face and substantially in the same plane as said forward face of said rail.

4. In a stapling machine, a frame having spaced sides, a rail interposed between said sides and spaced therefrom to define a longitudinally disposed passageway, a member carried by said sides and having a rear transverse face substantially parallel to the forward transverse face of said rail to define therewith a vertically disposed raceway, means projecting from said member and having forward transversely disposed vertical faces spaced from said rear face and substantially in the same plane as said forward face of said rail, said projecting means straddling and cooperating with spaced lower portions of said rail to prevent transverse displacement of said portions relative to said sides.

5. In a stapling machine, a one piece frame having at its forward end a vertically disposed column and an overhanging lip, a housing mounted on said frame in, spaced relation to said lip and said column, driving means having a channel shaped element interposed between said housing and said column and slidably guided thereby, a blade carried by said driving means, a member mounted on said housing and having a surface spaced from the forward face of said lip and defining therewith bearing means to slidably guide said blade, and means cooperating with said element to limit displacement of said driving means relative to said frame.

6. In a stapling machine, a one piece frame having at its forward end a vertically disposed column and an overhanging lip, a housing mounted on said frame in spaced relation to said lip and said column, driving means including a channel shaped elementJ interposed between said housing and said column and slidably guided thereby, a blade carried by said driving means, and a member mounted on said housing and having a surface spaced from the forward face of said lip and dening therewith bearing means to slidably guide said blade, transversely disposed stop means interconnecting said column and housing, means disposed in said column and cooperating with said driving means to hold the latter elevated, said element having means cooperating with said stop means to limit vertical displacement of said blade relative to said column.

7. In a stapling machine, a frame having spaced sides, a rail spaced from said sides, -a housing mounted on said frame and having forwardly disposed spaced lugs, and a sheath mounted on said housing and having means for receiving said lugs to locate said sheath relative to said housing.

8. In a stapling machine, a frame having spaced sides, a rail spaced from said sides, a housing straddling said frame, a sheath mounted on said housing, interlocking means for locating said sheath transversely of said housing, and

detent and indent locking means for locating said spaced sides, a staple supporting rail spaced from said sides, a housing closely straddling said frame and including means adapted to interlock with said sides and the sides of said rail, said housing having forwardly extending lugs, a sheath mounted on said housing and having openings for removably interlocking with said lugs to prevent vertical and transverse displacement of said sheath relative to said' housing, and means carried by said sheath adapted tointerlock with said housing to prevent longitudinal displacement of said sheath relative to said housing.

10. In a stapling machine, a member having a wall, means integral therewith and extending from lower portions only of said wall to define a vertically disposed staple raceway, and a rail closely straddled by said means integral with said wall to prevent spreading of the sides of said rail.

11. In a stapling machine, a frame having spaced sides including alined recesses at the forward portions thereof, a staple supporting rail interposed between said sides, means at the rear of said frame to position said rail in spaced rela'- tion to said sides, said rail having laterally extending lugs cooperating with said recesses to position said rail longitudinally of said frame, and a housing mounted at the forward part of said frame and including projecting means adapted to engage said lugs for positioning said rail vertically of said frame,

12. In a stapling machine, a frame having spaced sides including alined recesses at the forward portions thereof, a staple supportingvr rail yinterposed between said sides, projecting means at the rear of said frame to position vsaid rail in said sides, means at the rear of said frame to f position said rail in spaced relation to saidsides, said rail having laterally extending lugs cooperating with said recesses to position said rail 1ongitudinally of said frame, and a housing mounted spaced lugs adapted to sustain said iirst mentioned lugs for positioning said rail vertically of said frame.

14. In a stapling machine, a frame having spaced sides, a staple supporting rail spaced from said sides, a housing straddling said frame and including means adapted tointerlock with said sides and the sides of said rail, said housing having forwardly extending lugs, a sheath defining with said rail a vertically disposed staple race- Way and mounted on said housing and having openings for removably interlocking with said lugs to prevent vertical and transverse displacement of said sheath relative to said housing, and

means carried by said sheath adapted to interlock with said housing to prevent longitudinal displacement of said sheath relative to said housing.

15. In a stapling machine, a frame having spaced sides, a column integral with said frameL driving means slidable relative tosaid column, a staple supporting rail spaced from said sides, a housing having spaced sides closely straddling Y said frame and including means adapted to interlock with the sides of said frame, and the sides of said rail, said housing having forwardly extending lugs, a U-shaped sheath mounted on said housing and having openings for removably interlocking with said lugs to prevent vertical and transverse displacement of said sheath relative to said housing,` and detent means carried by said sheath adapted to interlock with said housing to prevent longitudinal displacement of said sheath relative to said housing.

- 16. In a stapling machine, a frame having spaced sides, a staple supporting rail spaced from said sides, a U-shaped housing closely straddling said frame and including means adapted to interlock with said sides, said housing having forwardly extending lugs, a sheath mounted on said housing and having openings for removably interlocking with said lugsto prevent vertical and transverse displacement of said sheath relative to said housing, said sheath having struck out means spaced from a wall of said sheath and defining therewith a staplevraceway, means carried by said sheath adapted to interlock with said housing to prevent longitudinal displacement of said sheath relativeV to said housing, and driving means for ejecting a staple from said raceway. 17. In a stapling machine, a frame having spaced sides including alined recesses at the forward portions thereof, a staple supporting rail interposed between said sides, means at the rear of said frame tonposition said rail in spaced relation to said sides, said rail having laterally extending lugs cooperating with said recesses to position said rail longitudinally of saidy frame,

and a housing mounted at the forward part of said frame and including projecting means adapted to interlock with'the walls of said recesses to position said housing relative to said frame, said projecting means constituting means to support said lugs to prevent downward displacement of the forward part of said rail.

STEPHEN A. CROSBY. 

